Prairie State College
Chicago Heights, IL · Public · Associate degree-granting
A public institution in Chicago Heights, Illinois, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Prairie State College serves students across multiple degree programs. With 2,443 students, it is a small institution. Graduates earn a median of $36,696 ten years after enrollment, compared to a national median of $40,747. The graduation rate is 20.1%. On the financial side, median graduate debt is $11,000, yielding an earnings-to-debt ratio of 3.34x. The average net price after financial aid is $4,738 per year. The most popular programs include Liberal Arts & Sciences, Practical Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment, Vehicle Maintenance & Repair, and Dental Support Services.
Key Outcomes
Median Earnings (10yr)
$36,696
Graduation Rate
20.1%
Median Debt
$11,000
Average Net Price
$4,738
Earnings-to-Cost Ratio
7.75x
Earnings-to-Debt Ratio
3.34x
Admissions & Enrollment
Total Enrollment
2,443
Admission Rate
Not reported
Average SAT
Not reported
Retention Rate
51.4%
Cost
In-State Tuition
$4,176
Out-of-State Tuition
$11,064
Pell Grant Rate
33.0%
Federal Loan Rate
8.2%
Net Cost by Family Income
Income $0–$30K
$3,546
Income $30K–$48K
$3,013
Income $48K–$75K
$7,839
Income $110K+
$13,908
Student Demographics
Women
63.1%
White
12.3%
Black
52.6%
Hispanic
23.5%
Asian
0.9%
Two or More Races
4.7%
Student Loan Performance
Repayment Rate (3yr)
24.8%
Accreditations
- Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, Inc. — Nursing (ADNUR) - Associate degree programs (Accredited)
- American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation — Dental Hygiene (DH) (Accredited)
- American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education — Physical Therapy (PTA) - Programs for the physical therapist assistant (Accredited)
- Higher Learning Commission — Institutional Accreditation (Accredited)
Programs (48)
Associate (15)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts & Sciences | $47,062 | 198 |
| Dental Support Services | $65,505 | 35 |
| Registered Nursing | $87,212 | 30 |
| Biological and Physical Sciences | Not reported | 18 |
| Computer & Information Sciences | Not reported | 7 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | Not reported | 7 |
| Human Development & Family Studies | Not reported | 6 |
| Electrical & Power Transmission | Not reported | 3 |
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | Not reported | 3 |
| Design & Applied Arts | Not reported | 3 |
| Business Administration & Management | $47,550 | 3 |
| Accounting | Not reported | 3 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | $39,190 | 0 |
| Psychology | $32,438 | Not reported |
| Health Services Administration & Management | $48,709 | Not reported |
Undergraduate Certificate (18)
| Program | Median Earnings | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing | $42,205 | 132 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic & Treatment | $57,474 | 57 |
| Vehicle Maintenance & Repair | Not reported | 40 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting | Not reported | 31 |
| Computer & Information Systems Security | Not reported | 28 |
| Fire Protection | Not reported | 26 |
| Heating & Air Conditioning | Not reported | 16 |
| Electrical & Power Transmission | Not reported | 11 |
| Computer Software Engineering | Not reported | 10 |
| Machinist | Not reported | 9 |
| Drafting/Design Engineering Technologies/Technicians | Not reported | 6 |
| Business | Not reported | 6 |
| Computer Systems Networking | Not reported | 5 |
| Computer Programming | Not reported | 4 |
| Industrial Production Technology | Not reported | 4 |
| Electrical Equipment Repair | Not reported | 3 |
| Dental Support Services | Not reported | 3 |
| Entrepreneurship | Not reported | 3 |
Show 15 additional programs with limited data
| Program | Level | Completers |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians | Associate | 2 |
| Design & Applied Arts | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Allied Health & Medical Assisting | Associate | 2 |
| Accounting | Undergraduate Certificate | 2 |
| Audiovisual Communications | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Graphic Communications | Associate | 1 |
| Electrical Engineering Technology | Associate | 1 |
| Industrial Production Technology | Associate | 1 |
| Energy Systems Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Human Development & Family Studies | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Sports & Fitness | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Sports & Fitness | Associate | 1 |
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
| Fire Protection | Associate | 1 |
| Heavy/Industrial Equipment Maintenance Technologies/Technicians | Undergraduate Certificate | 1 |
Rankings Featuring This Institution
- Highest Earning Associate's Nursing & Health Programs in Illinois
- Highest Earning Associate's Liberal Arts Programs in Illinois
- Best ROI Colleges
- Lowest Debt Colleges in Illinois
- Most Affordable Colleges in Illinois
- Best ROI Colleges in Illinois
Similar Institutions
- Lake Land College — $38,877
- Lewis and Clark Community College — $37,724
- City Colleges of Chicago-Harry S Truman College — $36,484
- Black Hawk College — $37,253
- Morton College — $42,406